Bottle support



Dec. 5, 1960 A. NORMAN BOTTLE SUPPORT Filed Aug. 6, 1957 m a 6 /6 xanc/ra Norm a /1 IN V EN TOR.

AGEIXT United States Patent BOTTLE SUPPORT Alexandra Norman, 32 W. 72nd St., New York, N.Y.

Filed Aug. 6, 1957, Ser. No. 676,681

Claims. (Cl. 211--74) The present invention relates to an adjustably operable bottle support comprising a bottle holding assembly and a mounting whereby one or more bottles can be supported in an upright or angular position in accordance with the angle desired. The invention is particularly applicable to the handling of small bottles containing applicator fluids, for example, nail polish, certain types of marking fluids, e.g. water colors, inks, certain types of paints, mucilage, and other similar fluids.

Small bottles of fluids, such as finger nail polish and the like, require, during handling, a certain amount of manual dexterity and unless one is very careful such bottles are apt to spill easily, particularly when the fluid level has approached the lower portion of the bottle and it becomes necessary to tilt the bottle in order to obtain access to the fluid. Because the bottle must be handled with one hand while a brush or applicator is handled with the other, the operation is greatly inconvenienced, whereby spilling sometimes occurs as an attendant mishap. The frequent going to and from the small bottle places the user under such a high degree of care that manipulative speed and efficiency are sacrificed.

The bottle support of the invention overcomes the foregoing inconveniences by making available a unique bottle holding assembly and mounting combination whereby the assembly may be frictionally supported in any desired angular position.

In achieving this end, the invention provides connecting means on the bottle holding assembly which is jointably cooperable with connecting means associated with the mounting, the relationship of one connecting means to the other being that of male to female. The male connecting means is characterized by a convexly curved surface concentric with and substantially of the same radius as the concavely curved surface of the female connecting means, said pair of connecting means having associated therewith means for holding the male connecting means in frictional and joint engagement with the female means. The mounting is generally provided with an integral base to insure stability of the combination.

In one embodiment, the invention provides connecting means in which the male portion is cylindrically configurated as a knob and the female portion cylindrically channeled or recessed to receive said knob.

In a preferred embodiment, the cylindrical knob is associated with the bottle holding assembly while the cylindrical recess is associated with the mounting.

The cylindrical recess is preferably made of resilient springy material, such as is readily available in certain types of injection molded plastic, the mouth of the cylindrical recess being a little smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical knob, whereby the knob can be sprung into joint engagement with the cylindrical recess and held frictionally in any desired position.

Alternatively, the frictional engagement of the knob with the recess can be achieved magnetically, that is by providing adjacent the concave surface of the recess a magnetic material which will hold fast to a'magnetizable material adjacent the surface of the cylindrical surface or vice versa.

These and other aspects of the invention will more clearly appear from the following description when taken in conjunction with the drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows in perspective a bottle holding support provided by the invention comprising a base and a mounting supporting a bank of bottle holding assemblies;

Fig. 2 illustrates in cross section the relation of the male connecting means to the female connecting means of the cylindrical type used in effecting the embodiment of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is similar to Fig. 1 but is limited to a device for holding one bottle;

Fig. 4 shows another embodiment of the mounting means in which kerfs are used to separate one cylindrical recess from another so that each can act independently in achieving a tight spring fit with the cylindrical male connecting means of the bottle assembly; and

Fig. 5 is similar to the cross section of Fig. 2 but differs in the utilization of magnetic means in maintaining frictional engagement between the connecting means.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 depicts a support for holding a plurality of bottles, the support comprising a base 1, having a mounting 2 longitudinally disposed along and integral with said base, the mounting having a cylindrically curved channel 3 running longitudinally through it. The channel has distributed thcrealong four cylindrically curved pockets or recesses 4 otherwise referred to as female connecting means having preferably side walls 5 for restricting lateral movement of the bottle holding assembly referred to generally as 6 comprising a' stem 7, a cylindrical knob or male connecting means 8 projecting downwardly from one end thereof and having leaf spring means 9 (preferably in the shape of ornamental leaves) for gripping bottle 10, the assembly 6 being shown out of engagement with recess 4. Bottle holding assemblies 11 to 13 are also illustrated, assembly 11 being shown in vertical engagement with the recess while assemblies 12 and 13 are shownin tilted engagement. Eye ways 14 are preferably provided for each recesswhich are adapted to just receive stem 7 of the bottle holding assembly so that the assembly can be freely tilted to an almost horizontal position.

Where necessary, the base of the support may be provided with a longitudinally disposed well or depression 15 adapted to contain manicuring instruments, brushes and similar devices.

In order to maintain a tight fit between the male and female connecting means, gripping means associated with.

said connecting means are provided as shown in one embodiment (note Fig. 2), whereby the walls of the cylindrically shaped recess 4a in mounting 2a are caused to curve about the cylindrical knob 8a. This is achieved by making mounting 2a from stiff spring-like material, for example from heat-setting plastic of dimensional stability and adequate strength, and by maintaining the in-' ternal circumferential arc of the cylindrically shaped recess a little over for example from over about 200 to about 250. In other words, while recess 4a will have substantially the same diameter as cylindrical knob 8a, its opening will be less than the diameter of the knob.

In effect, recess 4a terminates into two wings 4b, 4c inwardly bevelled at their respective ends 4d, 4e.- By pressing knobs 8a against bevels 4d, 4e, wings 4b, 4c are caused to spring apart until the knob hits the bottom .of the recess, whereby the wings spring back into their origi nal position around the major circumferential portion of the knob. Eye way 14a is similar to eye wayv 14 shown: in Fig. 1.

A plastic material having the desired proper- 3 particularly adapted to injection molding, has adequate strength and the required dimensional stability.

Where a bank of recesses are employed in a mounting, for example more. than three or four, it may be prefer: able to separate one from the other by a kerf 16 as shown in Fig. 4.. In this way, each recess is enabled. to act independently of the other when caused to. spring apart and close about a cylindrical knob, thus insuring a tight fit without being affected by the stress applied to the adjacent recess.

Another means which may be employed for effecting and maintaining frictional engagement between the male and female connecting means comprises using screws passing through the wings of the mounting shown for purposes of illustration in Fig. 4 (screws 17, 13). Thus, by tightening the screws and nuts after the knob has been inserted into recess 19, wings 29 and 21 along the mounting are caused to press up against the cylindrical surface of the knob to insure the frictional engagement thereof.

The same effect can be achieved by making use of strong magnetic forces at the contacting surfaces of the male and female connecting means. This is illustrated in Fig. 5, which shows in cross section one embodiment for utilizing this effect. Thus, the recess of mounting 22 is provided with embedded magnetic particles at least adjacent the surface of the recess. A magnetic alloy having the desired properties is one sold under the trademark Alnico 5 which comprises about 24% cobalt, 14% nickel, 8% aluminum, 3% copper and the balance iron.

The cylindrical knob 24 extending from stem 24a is provided at least adjacent its cylindrical surface with magnetizable material 25, such as powder iron or iron oxide. The strong attractive magnetic forces arising from the embedded Alnico 5 alloy willhold the curved surface of one in snug and frictional relationship with the other, whereby the bottle holding assembly attached to the stem can be tilted at any desired angle.

The embedding of the magnetic alloy into the mounting can be achieved by mixing a given amount of the alloy in powdered form with the plastic prior to injection molding the support, followed by magnetizing the recess. The knob with its magnetizable material is similarly formed. The recess with the magnetized surface will then attract the knob and hold it in position. Of course, other means for producing a magnetic joint can be employed. For example, the mounting and knob may be made completely from a magnetic material or both might have sections of magnetic material embedded therein.

It will be appreciated that the invention is not to be limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown and that the several parts and elements can be variously arranged and organized without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the bottle holding support can be used with advantage for supporting a wide variety of bottles. For example, the holder can be used to support bottles containing ink eradicator fluids, fluid for mimeograph stencils, liquid shoe polish, perfumes, spot removing chemicals, fluids for retouching photographic work, etc.

As has been stated hereinbefore thermosetting plastics are particularly adapted to the production of the bottle support provided by the invention. However, the support need not all be made of plastic but may have portions made of metal. Thus, in producing the bottle holding assembly such as 6, or 11 to 13, the stem and knob may be made of one piece by injection molding, the stem being adapted for assembling metal leaf springs thereto, for example, similar to leaves 9 in Fig. 1. If desired, the whole bottle support may be made of metal.

While the present invention has been described in conjunction with a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be resorted 4 to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the invention and the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An adjustably operable bottle support comprising a mounting having a channel of cylindrical cross section running therethrough. and a bottle holding assembly connected to said mounting, said assembly comprising a stem having at one end a bottle retaining member comprised of a bottle seating portion with a plurality of resilient leaf springs extending upwardly therefrom adapted to grip a bottle and at the other end male connecting means configurated as :a cylindrical knob co-operable with and connected to female means in the mounting comprising a cylindrically shaped pocket conforming substantially dimensionally to the said cylyindrical knob, said pocket being formed within said cylindnically curved channel, Said pocket characterized by side walls for en gaging the sides of the cylindrical knob and holding it against lateral; displacement, the cylindrical knob being concentric with. and of substantially the same radius as the pocket, and means associated with said cooperable male and female connecting means for holding the cylindrical knob in frictional and joint engagement within the cylindrically curved pocket whereby said bottle holding assembly may be tilted at any desired angle towards the horizontal.

2. Anadjustably operable bottle support comprising a base, a longitudinally disposed mounting integral with said base and having a channel of cylindrical cross sec.- tion running longitudinally therethrough, and a bank of. bottle holding assemblies connected along said mounting, each. of said assemblies comprising a stem having at one end a bottle. retaining. member comprised of a bottle seating portion with a plurality of resilient leaf springs extending upwardly therefrom and at the other end male connecting means configurated. as a cylindrical knob jointably cooperable with and connected to female connecting means comprising a series of cylindrically shaped pockets. formed within and along said cylindrically curved channel, each of said pockets characterized by side walls for engaging the sides of the cylindrical knob and holding it against lateral displacement, the cylindrical knob being concentric with and of substantially the same radius as its corresponding cylindrically curved recess, and means associated with said cooperable male and female connect-- ing means for holding the cylindrical knob in frictional and joint engagement within the pocket whereby said bottle holding assembly may be tilted at any desired angle towards the horizontal.

3. The adjustably operable bottle support as defined in claim 2, wherein the means for frictionally holding the cylindrical knob of each of the bottle holding assemblies in adjustable and joint engagement with each of said cylindrical recesses comprises means at the mouth of said recess formed of springy, resilient plastic material capable of springing apart during the insert-ion of said knob and closing about the curved surface of the knob to bind it sufficiently tight within said recess.

4. The bottle support as defined in claim 2 wherein the longitudinally disposed mounting is provided with a series of transverse kerfs each separating one cylindrical pocket from the other, whereby each recess is enabled to act independent of each other when subjected to the press fitting action of the cylindrical knob during the insertion thereof. 7

5. The bottle holding support of claim 1 wherein the means for frictionally holding the cylindrical knob in adjustable and joint relationship with said cylindrical recess comprises magnetic means associated with the curved surfaces of said connecting means.

(R feren 0 f ll P UNITED STATES PATENTS Galbraith May 3, 1887 Schafier Ian. 28, 1902 Hanle May 24, 1932 Ferrier Dec. 27, 1932 Wuestman Oct. 11, 1949 6 Gruen Apr. 4, 1950 Harmon July 24, 1951 Fraenckel July 29, 1952 Walter Apr. 14, 1953 Fleit' June 5, 1956 Saives May 7, 1957 Melloh Feb. 11, 1958 

